Reducing gaps in digital entrepreneurship education: A systematic review of innovative learning strategies and their institutional impact

Abstract

This systematic review and bibliometric analysis investigated digital transformation in entrepreneurship education using the theories–contexts–methods–antecedents–decisions–outcomes framework. Based on a comprehensive examination of 65 articles published between 2006 and 2025, the study identifies six distinct knowledge clusters: educational technology frameworks, social entrepreneurship ecosystems, educational innovation in higher education, entrepreneurial education and employability, digital knowledge management and entrepreneurial innovation culture. Findings indicate that effective entrepreneurial education in digital contexts depends on the interplay among institutional support, technological infrastructure, pedagogical strategies and contextual relevance. Digital literacy emerges as a foundational competency, with measurable impacts, such as a 2 % reduction in poverty risk for every one-point increase in digital literacy. Experiential and challenge-based learning methods outperform traditional approaches, with simulation-based strategies demonstrating up to a 170 % improvement in entrepreneurial competencies. The study proposes an integrated framework illustrating how institutional factors, technological infrastructure and pedagogical design interact to create effective learning environments for entrepreneurial development. Identified research gaps include longitudinal competency development, cross-cultural effectiveness, emerging technology integration and assessment methodologies, providing a clear agenda for advancing both theoretical insights and practical applications in digital-age entrepreneurship education.